Matt Cooke is a wanted man tonight

I don't believe civil as the word we're looking for here okay. I'm not sure that civility has anything to do with what Bruins fans want. What their interest that then in fact I think civility would be just exactly the opposite of what Bruins fans are looking for. We might for the first time in our memory here. C a TV rating from Boston Bruins game tonight that rivals Red Sox TV on -- You might see that kind of a TV ratings tonight.

It's going to be a strong and they are strong rating -- I would say Red Sox in. Red Sox yankees obviously Red Sox probably that there. Are any military lowest rating was. In in 2009. What are their lowest rating was in on nine that are operating at that the -- of the Bruins probably have -- that well. All year and gets mayhem rated that you're -- and I don't know why I haven't looked into they have what the hell is wrong with -- people look at what you don't want it. What's up on what are collapsing and doesn't score all that much. Did you watch it.

This is one of those things and and and I've always talked about you know Bakken. Mid eighties and you'd wake up in the morning in the Celtics would be playing the lakers that night. And you'd be all cranked up from the -- woke up you'd be thinking about the game that night you be thinking about bird and magic and Celtics and lakers in and you would spend the entire day preparing yourself for that. That's what Bruins fans have going to -- from the time Bruins fans woke up this morning they thought about opening faceoff tonight they thought about what's gonna happen tonight. And I can't wait. I can't wait -- and I'll I'll take one step further. I don't bet on sporting events. Why not ideas and I would that I would bet a month's pay. That Matt cook it challenge to a fight the first time he touches the -- to know -- I would bet a month's what you really yup. There is zero chance that Matt -- doesn't get challenge tonight.

In the first.

First time he touches the ice really will be challenged tonight --

I wish I could cut it at at and it really wanted to arguably challenge tonight two of the key will be out how to at all but what happened that stone. But he he's crazy. If he thinks that he will get out of here if he decides to play. -- let out of them platelet. These crazy if you think he's gonna get out of here without a fight or -- challenge we can't. I should happen along time ago but that's the -- We are where we -- this is almost better this is better than that the Bruins had. I had immediately responded. What Mack Matt cook it down and I like to build up better here I like the height I like the tale of the tape. I like the stakes. In the Bruins not only. Is everybody and nationally people are watching. Because they want the Bruins do some than a Mac. Like the DN AR -- the entire NHL. Is behind the Bruins. So that's -- from a national perspective that's an interest in story. And locally it's interesting because. They are marginal playoff team they are three points ahead three points ahead of the Rangers heavily for the eighth spot in the and then in the Eastern Conference. So not only are they expected Q beat somebody up tonight. In all of you wanna be if you wanna get into the playoffs you have to win this game gets a very good team excellent. So it it there's there's a lot gone.

They won't skate this morning because they played last night New Jersey. So the media won't get an opportunity to talk to Matt -- this morning. You'll get an opportunity to question him that's good -- like that to a we don't know it's perfect all what they think about this now put yourself in Mets Matt -- skates for a moment. And imagine what it's like you wake up in Boston you -- from New Jersey last night you get up to go to breakfast and every hockey player right now buys the papers. Grab the papers you know on your on your way to breakfast and you and you have the papers -- Matt Cooke. And your Boston Herald -- sit there and that's what the front page of the Boston Boston Harold looks like. Wanted. He wanted poster with Matt -- face on it now now think about. Matt Cooke's. State of mind he probably likes that.

If I don't I don't you gotta be more than just a little nervous but let me ask you this and if you -- I've given to the of the mind of Matt Cooke explored the psyche of this guy I look I don't care or not but -- go a step further okay he has the guy. Who is known as upon throughout the national yes absolutely he's an agitator wider agitators agitate.

Bet that their skill set they're not big enough and tough enough to be. You know enforcers. I can't do which Shawn Thornton does they don't have the skill of Crosby or mall and are Patrice Bergeron Marc Savard. So it's this little tiny narrow niche that they have where the only way they can keep the job the only way they can keep making a living at this is to do this stuff. That's my experience that agitators do it because it's the only way they stay employed but OK that's fine. Is his reason for doing it but.

If you're if you're gonna stay employed if that's the best to where you gonna stay employed. After you do it for awhile that's that becomes who you are when you went on the ice and I bet -- he enjoys it is -- Sean -- enjoy doing what he did of course he did. Enjoyed -- and enjoy the attention by the way he's the exact same scenario was caught. His skill set is sold limited. He doesn't have a job in the NH LP doesn't play -- you know what he did outlets open Brodeur -- what he said about Lisa copper. He likes the attention he likes. Being hated. So Matt Cooke probably get if if he actually reads the paper. Most people his age don't. But -- actually -- hockey players all every time every time I've been around team really are always walking to breakfast with a newspaper. A newspaper Yucca for the but. If he actually reads it PCs that likes it.

I'm glad they want me. To the text or who just wrote in they definitely didn't play last night dale. Somebody break the news to them because they lost five to edit and our Jersey devils like lies that they lost every game of the season series against the devils now. -- and didn't play last night probably won't play tonight there was a question about whether Crosby was going to be able -- last night he did. They they just can't beat the devils have lost every game in the season series against Brodeur in the doubles. And the doubles have suddenly inched up in Iraq now art and are poised here to take over the division lead from Pittsburgh. Not yet they it's sort -- And and they travel after the game they would have gotten here at a 212 o'clock in the morning. They won't skate this morning it in all likelihood they'll meter -- On all right just pointing up Niedermayer actually did -- weekend. I I -- I will say this in this is gonna sound strange when I say it. The Bruins. Have had eight an unbelievable opportunity dropped into their laps. Now I'm not talking about Marc Savard being hurt and laying in a darkened -- unable to even watch television that's a bad thing right you don't want that to happen and the Bruins have had a unique opportunity dropped into their laps now in recent memory. When they've had opportunities dropped into their laps eighth victim why. Here's the situation okay. When was the last time a single regular season game out of 82 mattered.

I mean that was the event of New Year's Day at Fenway Park last game matter yes we did it matter I mean it hasn't yet had to win that game I think that the -- They had to win the -- classic because everybody was paying attention but your point is well taken. Out of 82 games you don't find a lot of appointment viewing I gotta see this game you don't you don't find many of those I think the -- classic was one and I think the first game after the Olympic break --

You have you have this this one out of 82 where this really matters to people people are talking about it around the water cooler. They're talking about and in the office even if they don't watch hockey they're talking about it. As I said it's on the front page -- Boston Herald today there's attention on the Bruins there's attention on hockey there's attention on this game tonight and as I said. The ratings nest and -- gonna post tonight going to be through the room. In addition to that if you're a season ticket holder right now you've got to renewal applications sitting on your kitchen table it went out recently. They're asking you to renew prices have gone up for next year. You know you've got people making decisions right now on you know -- wanna spend more -- my money and continue to support this product. They are they've got a big ad campaign out now for non season ticket holders to become season ticket holders they've got new bear ads. You know they're they're really push innate right they're try to get -- money and and they got all the attention they've got all of the I mean not only the hockey world but the sports world is watching this game. If they take advantage of that opportunity. They can do themselves some good tonight.

By taking advantage of it I mean do what you didn't do in Pittsburgh. The average and I think Steve Deossie made a very good point yesterday to yesterday. And experience the tension in the day before yesterday -- after red Sox baseball. -- very good point yesterday he said it doesn't sit well with him. That the Bruins. Didn't respond it is fine it was achieved it with a cheap shot. It doesn't sit well him that the Bruins didn't respond to the cheap shot immediately. So coming back -- I -- completely cutting back on March 18. This big showdown with the penguins in Mac cup we're gonna show you does seem kind. Delinquent I I I don't disagree with him. But if you don't do anything tonight. -- Your fans have Chela I I can't remember the last time I sub Bruins fans this upset but yeah but I think I think a lot of fans you're right -- I mean. This is a game a lot of people wanna see but I think a lot of people were turned off by the lack of response initially. They were turned up by the lack of response from the players. Were turned off by Claude Julie and saying oh my god. I hope the commissioner commissioner does something about the as -- help the league right handles this.

So a lot then Colin Campbell completely dropped the ball on behalf of the late but that's on on the --

Apart at the Bruins couldn't -- they didn't handle so -- lost a lot of people there. Sure there are some loyal fans who are not gonna that they'll never go they'll never go away so. Not really playing to them tonight no matter what the team does they're gonna stay. Hard core audience. Are thick and --

I don't know why do you normally Michael I'd agree with the -- and nine times out of ten in the past I'd agree with. I can't remember hearing Bruins nation pull the hard core loyal Bruins fans as upset as they were in the aftermath of what happened in Pittsburgh. And and you heard Bruins fans and I know talk is cheap -- you heard Bruins fans say that's it right that was the -- and that's it for -- while I agree I agree with that. That they did lose some fans there. Out I doubt that they lost.

Hard core. -- watching them my entire life. Can tell you where I was when Bobby Orr scored that goal against the saint Louis blues. I doubt they lost that type of --

That fans I think I think some -- they did -- not I mean not many that's been -- that release of that tight you're right that that type the -- and -- Elm those those fans about Camelot that there are many other.

Examples there of their many other episodes that are much more egregious than this. That appear fair and you say that. Is my -- to be out. I can name a lot I can name ten incidents. General managing. Hires coaching hires and fires. Players who -- of players who leave -- Trades at the deadline that we're not made. Playoff performances. Kind is that. This is added to -- So I think some people left and -- of people left after the agency response to Pittsburgh. Now. Now I don't know I don't if you think play well right now they play well tonight. They beat up Matt Cooke.

And they win this game for to do. You think that's impetus. -- with a -- I'm I'm just looking at a text that says I'm an eight year season ticket holder I was so disappointed last Sunday and considering not renewing. Tonight we'll tell -- I think there's a group of fans out there who said you know what they don't win necessarily. But there's a certain pride I haven't being a Bruins fan that justifies my financial investment there's a certain pride in the way this team has been. It has been known to play in the past. And I saw -- team collectively. Turtle like a week ago Sunday. And I I was embarrassed by it. It made me feel like my my investment was a bad investment. And if the Bruins went out tonight played hard you know don't do when he thing Lou six to three whatever -- I'm telling yeah once nation will will. And it'll be pitchforks and and torture -- time at the TD garden. They can't not respond tonight -- it is not an option I think.

No matter what no matter what the commissioner says not to commissioner no matter what Colin -- I Campbell says to them before the game if he does talk to them before the game. And -- there was a teleconference with him yesterday was a press conference with Campbell. We were running tape on that burger. The ever answer that question. We posed the question to. He did not get an answer that question if you're rested teams.

Did anybody ask -- he he is addressing the teams tonight he is addressing that he has. And --

The Bruins will ignore what he says. Have to I tell on the net and the Bruin spy plane orders and look and I know. I'm supposed to talk to your non and also he did say ladies sitting on the bruins' bench and I him right -- it clean but. I don't like Mac computer go -- give them.

We will lot at 1102 this morning talk to one of our favorite gas you're about to hear a lot of him. On these on these airwaves cause he's one of the voices of the Boston Red Sox Dave O'Brien will join us we love talking OB about well anything the world will be all over the map with him. And -- we will look at tonight's game at TD garden with the guy who I'm sure will be on set for NASA and tonight. I'm Mike Milbury will in all likelihood be sitting there with captain Tappan tonight when. In the puck drops and we'll get his thoughts on. How this thing will take place tonight what the reaction will be. And Mike Milbury has very quickly become must listen radio as far as I'm concerned and must watch TV when he's sitting there on the set with Catherine.